Written by - Silver Crown
Ch - 18 A busy day
My eyes scammed the surrounding people and searched for Zhao Chi. The streets are bustling with people. It was filled with people doing all kinds of activities such as walking, queuing, and shopping. Searching for him among these numerous people wasn't an easy task.
Thankfully these people wore different sect uniforms with various colors. Which are representing which peak they belong. I only have to look for the people with blue uniforms.
Now here is the question. Zhao Chi wore (a)Sky Blue (b)Azure Blue (c) do you think I remember? (d) what color is your Bugatti?
The answer is obvious. It is (c). I rubbed my temples with both hands. In other people's view, I might look like the person from the picture of 'the scream' by 'Edvard munch'.
'I need to calm down first'.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. I'm separated from Zhao Chi. He might come back to search me if he realized I'm not with him. Now, I am currently standing alone on the rowdy street. If it was a straight road, I only need to look for the people in front of me. However, there is a crossroads ahead of me. I shifted my head from left to right.
'It's a crossroad. I don't know which way Zhao Chi went.'
I need to be on a high platform to get a better view. So, my eyes landed on a footbridge for crossing the road. When I was about to climb the stairs, someone patted my shoulder from the back.
"Turtle where are you going."
Hearing a familiar voice, I slowly turned back my body. Sure enough, it's Zhao Chi.
"Ah, nothing. Where did Senior go? I was searching for you. Brother Zhao." I said while embarrassingly scratching my head.
"I was behind you all the time."
"I was slowing down my speed a bit, to give you some time but,"
"You overtook me and stopped after walking a bit."
He shifted his face to the right and covered his mouth. I can hear his muffled laughter.
'You insolent whelp, I can hear you.'
Well, for him it would be quite a comical sight.
"Cough... Cough. Let's go. Sect administration department is over there."
He pointed his finger toward a building ahead of us. It might be a pretty big structure. I could see it from this far (nearly from two bus stops).
When we got closer, I realized it wasn't just a pretty big but an enormous structure. There is also a board indicating a map of the building layout at the front gate. Although I can't read the language characters, there is also a simple description with symbols.
It was depicted with cute mascots from each peak. For example, the illustration of a mini dragon wearing armor and a spear with an exclamation mark on its head. Indicating the area was for mission assignments area of the azure dragon peak. At another place on the map, there is a picture of a round pig trading with another pig with a beard. A money pouch is hovering between the two of them. Which implies it is a trading center for Chaos pig peak.
"Our destination is here." Zhao Chi pointed his finger at a place on the map. A picture of a turtle with a long mustache giving a shell to a hermit crab.
A thought suddenly filled my mind. 'Wow, we aren't even in the same species category'. However, when my eyes landed on a certain picture, my sullen mood faded away like smoke. It was a picture of a pig giving a pig head hoodie to a sea slug.
'Well, at least I was a crab'. I muttered in my heart.
After following the shortest route the map indicated, we arrived at a hall. There is only a group of people queueing at some counters.
"That counter is for new labor. It is a counter for necessary supplies allocation." Zhao Chi pointed at a counter.
"Go there and tell the receptionist about your situation. I'll be waiting for you here."
Zhao Chi sat at a nearby bench. From the look on his face, it would take quite a while for the procedure to be over. No people are lining up at the counter, only a receptionist who is leisurely reading a book.
I walked to the counter and told the receptionist about my situation. The receptionist listened to my story without commenting on anything. He stood up and beckoned me to follow him. Many things happened during the registration process. There were so many tests that I forgot how they conducted the whole procedure.
One hour later,
Zhao Chi and I got out of the hall. Unlike my previous self from the few minutes prior, I got a shiny bald head, wearing new grey-colored linen clothes, and a pair of shoes on my feet at present. My right hand was carrying a trunk. A key and two tickets in my other hand carrying a pot using my elbow.
"Looks like the dormitory for the new laborers is already fixed. They are giving you a cottage."
"Well, it has its perks too. First, we have to report your arrival at your peak. Then, let's head to your residence." Zhao Chi said. He was looking at a map they provided for me.
"Thank you, brother Zhao," I bowed my head slightly.
"It's okay. I think it will be late when we arrive. So, Let's have lunch before we go," he said.
"Yes, let's do it that way senior. I don't know how many merit points I have but let me treat you to a meal for trouble, brother Zhao," I said.
"Then let's head to a good restaurant, I will show you the way," he said while smiling.
'You don't even reject out of courtesy.'
I looked at the meal tickets in my left hand. They will only give two tickets for free at the end of each month. If I want to earn more, then I have to do the labor or mission.
"By the way, brother Zhao. Is Canlan your real name?" I asked while walking.
"It's a courtesy name. In the world of cultivation giving your real name is taboo."
My eyes got widened. I looked at him with a shocked expression.
"I'm not talking about your birth name. Your birth name is already severed by the vortex. Bla Bla..."
We talked while walking. It was quite a hectic day. After We ate our lunch. We strolled around some areas of the center square. Exchange some merit points with some spirit stones. Then, took a bus to black tortoise peak. When I was done with reporting for my arrival, we walked around and searched for my assigned house.
After searching for a bit, we arrived at a neat cottage. It wasn't as grand as Zhao Chi house but it was cozy enough to live in.
While Zhao Chi left my house after explaining some functions of my new resident, I got busy cleaning the cottage and sorting things out from the trunk. Before I realized it, it was already dark. I folded the map of the tortoise peak and placed it on a table.
Thinking about tomorrow's appointment for new labor disciples, I prepared to sleep early. I thought I wouldn't able to get sleep due to the unfamiliar environment. Yet, as soon as I entered the mattresses, I fell asleep like a bulb that got switched off.